Tape delivery device



Feb. 4, 1941.

E. C. DEMAREST TAPE DELIVERY DEVICE Filed Feb. 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR 0. WM

Md ATTOR Feb. 4, 1941. E. c. DEMAREST TAPE DELIVERY DEVICE Filed Feb. 26, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 4, 1941 UNITED STATE PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to an improved machine for feeding gummed paper tape used in wrapping and sealing packages and the invention is particularly directed to the delivery portion of such 5 machines which are designed to have the tape fed or propelled from the machine by pressure of the fingers of the operator.

In previous machines of this type the gummed tape is fed across a plate toward the outlet for the tape and the feeding of the tape is interfered with and sometimes impossible, by reason of its sticking to the plate. This is more pronounced in humid weather or in damp situations. It often happens that a machine left overnight can not be freely operated in the morning due to such adherence which is increased when the tape is pressed and an attempt is made to slide it forward.

In my improved machine the tape does not stick even when damp on the gummed side, which is the side toward the abutment or surface on which the paper is moved, and it is always ready for use.

The invention is also directed toward a more 25 easily assembled device and to various details of construction which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The invention is illustrated in. the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a top View of the delivery end of a tape-delivery machine with the tape removed. Figure 2 is a section on line 22 in Figure 3. Figure 3 is a section on line 33 in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 in Figure 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged section of the feeding sheet as used in my improved machine.

In the drawings the roll of tape and the supporting means for the roll have been omitted as they are of any appropriate type. The tape is Q illustrated at Ill in Figure 3 and is of the usual form with one side, the under side ll, provided with the adhesive. The machinecomp-rises a frame including side walls l2 which extend to the front of the machine and provide a space 45 for the reservoir to be described hereinafter. The tape passes under a suitable guide comprising a cross-bar l3 and top plate [4 with space be tween them to allow the sliding of the tape. The roller is placed to conduct the tape to the feeding device and is usually set down with its ends it resting in sockets I! in the side walls.

This allows an easy installation and removal of the roller.

The improved feeding means receives the tape from the roller l5 and is mounted on a cross the cover plate.

flange I8 of the machine and on the side walls I2. The baseof the feeding device is a plate H) which is secured to the side walls by screws 29. The fastening allows adjustment back and forth as the screws pass through the slots 2| in the cross flange l8. The front end of the plate i9 is preferably turned slightly upward as at 23 to guide the tape between a tear edge and a moistening device. The plate acts as a support for the sheet 24 which provides the surface over which the tape passes and over which the tape is fed by pressing down on the tape by one or two fingers of the hand. In other machines this feeding is difficult and sometimes impossible by reason of the use of a flat plate to which the tape adheres if the gummed face of the tape becomes moist or wet by either careless handling or by reason of humidity. The present form overcomes this difficulty.

The sheet is not an unbroken surface but has a number of finely divided projections and at the same time provides a surface that allows an easy gliding of the tape. It is also desirable to have a slight cushion or give to the sheet in order to facilitate the initial feeding of the tape. It is also of advantage to have the sheet supported with a slight horizontal motion or play, that is, it is not too firmly fixed in position. i

The most effective and desirable material so far developed for the sheet is metallic mesh and I show such sheet in exaggerated form in Figure 5 with the edges 25 turned in to form a raised sheet and thus provide a cushion for the major area of the sheet. The sheet is loosely held in place by bending down the rear end thereof to form a flange 21' whch fits loosely in the slot 28 in the plate l9. It will be clear that this form provides for the easy installation and removal of the sheet.

Over thesheet 24 is a cover plate 29 that bridges the sheet and is spaced therefrom to allow the tape, it] to pass over the sheet and under The cover'plate has its front end formed to furnish a tear-edge such as shown by the toothed edge 30 slightly in rear of and above the edge 23 of the plate l9; The teeth are of advantage in tearing the heavy and tougher paper tapes.

The cover plate is easily placed and removed. On one edge is a lip 31 that is caught under the plate 89 after it has been passed through the slot 32 and then swung down. The other side is provided with a flange 33 that passes down through a slot 34 in the plate l9 and has an opening $5 which is under the plat'ele and receives a suitable latch. The latch shown comprises the sheet metal plate pivoted at 36 to the plate l9 and provided with a nose 31 under the plate to enter the opening 35 and with a finger piece 38 over the plate IQ for manipulating the latch.

The moistening device comprises a reservoir or small tank 39 which fits loosely between the front end of the walls l2 and is'easily installed or replaced by reason of the lips 4|] which rest in shallow grooves, 4|, in the top edges of the side walls. The tank 39 has an inclined brush 42 detachably secured which brush has its bottom end 43 in a ferrule 44 which rests in a trough 45 which trough is at the bottom of an inclined plate 46 which extends upwardly and, holds the brush in place. The wiping end 41 of the brush extends to a point in front of the end 23 of the plate which end deflects the tape and forces it along the brush which is kept moist by capillary ate traction. As the brush wears the plate I!) and its associated parts are moved forwardly by adjustment of the screws 20 in the slots 2|.

It will be clear that the tape, even in humid weather or if the tape becomes moistened by any other cause, will be easily fed by finger pressure due to the even support on the metallic mesh and the resultant multiplicity of numerous separated points of contact and also to the cushion effect above the solid plate which causes a slight but adequate air pressure to destroy any suction between the tape and the sheet.

The parts can be readily removed for cleaning as the'release of the latch permits the cover plate to be lifted and the removal of the cover plate allows the sheet 24 to be lifted and the parts can be washed and cleaned and quickly replaced.

Another advantage of the above described feeding means is that no deposit of fibers or gum from the tape accumulates on the sheet to any appreciable extent as it either drops through or is dislodged when the flexible and partly open sheet is pressed. This accumulation of gum or fiber usually occurs in those machines that have a plain flat surface or that use rolls for feeding and when present this accumulation holds the tape so securely that it is diflicult and sometimes impossible to move it and the end of the tape must be torn off and a clean section then inserted in the feeding means which refilling causes delay.

Various changes can be made in the form and proportion of parts without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A tape delivery device comprising a feed plate, a sheet of metallic mesh on said plate and over which a strip of tape is fed by finger pressure on the tape.

2. A tape delivery device comprising a sheet of metallic mesh over which a strip of tape is fed by finger pressure of the operator, a support for said sheet, said support comprising a plate under the metallic sheet, and means for retaining the sheet in place and allowing a slight horizontal motion of said sheet.

3. A tape delivery device comprising a machine frame including side Walls, a plate secured on the side walls, a sheet of metallic mesh on the plate with its major area spaced from said plate to form a cushion and means for securing the parts in detachable assembled relation.

4. A tape delivery device comprising a machine including forwardly projecting side walls, a pl e ecured to sa d side walls, a sheet with minute projections and with perforations, said sheet having a downwardly projecting flange, the plate having a slot to loosely receive said flange, and a cover plate detachably secured to the plate and having a cut-out portion at the rear to expose part of the sheet and having its front edge providing a tearing edge for tape.

5. A tape delivery device comprising a machine including forwardly projecting side walls, a plate secured tosaid side walls, a sheet with minute projections and with perforations, said sheet having a downwardly projecting flange, the plate having a slot to loosely receive said flange, a cover plate having a lip on one side and a perforated flange on the other side, the plate having openings toreceive the lip and the flange, and a latch on the plate to engage the perforation in the flange of the cover below the plate, said cover plate havin a cut-out portion at the back to expose the sheet and having its front edge formed to tear tape pulled against it.

6. A tape delivery device comprising a machine including forwardly projecting side walls, a plate secured to said side walls, a sheet of metallicmesh, said sheet having a downwardly projecting flange, the plate having a slot to loosely receive said flange, a cover plate having a lip on one side and a perforated flange on the other side, the plate having openings to receive the lip and the flange, and a latch on the plate to engage the perforation in the flange of the cover below the plate, said cover plate having a cut-out portion at the back to expose the sheet and having its front edge formed to tear tape pulled against 7. In a delivery device for tape machines comprising a horizontal plate, and a sheet of metallic mesh on said plate and supported with its major area slightly spaced above the plate to provide a slightly resilient surface over which tape can be fed by finger pressure of the operator.

8. A tape delivery device comprising a machine including forwardly projecting side walls, a reservoir slidable between said side walls, notches in said side walls, lips on the reservoir for resting in said side walls, a plate secured to said side walls and extending over said reservoir, a sheet with minute projections and with perforations, said sheet having a downwardly projecting flange, the plate having a slot to loosely receive said flange, a cover plate detachably secured to the plate and having a cut-out portion at the rear to expose part of the sheet and having its front edge providing a tearing edge for tape, and

a brush supported in said reservoir and with its wiping end in proximity to the tearing edge.

9. A tape delivery device comprising a machine including forwardly projecting side walls, a reservoir slidable between said side walls, notches in said side walls, lips on the reservoir for resting in said side walls, a plate secured to said side walls and extending over said reservoir a sheet with minute projections and with perforations, said sheet having a downwardly projecting flange, the plate having a slot to loosely receive said flange, a cover plate having a lip on one side and a perforated flange on the other side, the plate having openings to receive the lip and the flange, a latch on the plate to engage the perforation in the flange of the cover below the plate, said cover plate having a cut-out portion at the back to expose the sheet and having its front ed e formed to tear tape pulled against it, and

a brush in the reservoir with its wiping end situated in front of the said tearing edge.

10. A tape delivery device comprising a machine including forwardly projecting side walls, a reservoir slidable between said side walls, notches in said side walls, lips on the reservoir for resting in said side walls, a plate secured to said side walls and extending over said reservoir, 2. sheet with minute projections and with perforations, said sheet having a downwardly projecting flange, the plate having a slot to loosely receive said flange, a cover plate having a lip on one side and a perforated flange on the other side, the plate having openings to receive the lip and the flange, a latch on the plate to engage the perforation in the flange of the cover below the plate, said cover plate having a cut-out portion at the back to expose the sheet and having its front edge formed to tear tape pulled against it and means for adjusting the plate in relation to the wiping end of the brush.

EDWARD C. DEMAREST. 

